MOTTE & BAILEY CASTLE

GUIDE TO MAKING A MOTTE AND BAILEY CASTLE MODEL

There is a full list of materials used at the end of the article, along with downloadable 'How to' sheet and downloadable plans (6 A4 sheets).

The plans are available as a single sheet to buy, printed onto thick paper.

These include a base board plan and all walls and buildings.

Be careful when using the scalpel: don't put yourself, especially your fingers, in the blade's path.

After cutting, store the scalpel carefully.

Always use a safety rule.

MAKING THE MOTTE MOUND

1. Glue the three A4 sheets of the plan together using the glue stick as indicated on the plan.

2. Glue the plan to the foamboard using the glue stick putting enough glue on the back of the drawing so the it is held in place to cut out the moat but can be removed later.

3. On a cutting mat or thick card using a craft knife with a new blade cut through the foamboard around the outside of the plan.

4. Cut through the card on the top layer of the foamboard only, not cutting through the foam, following the outline of the outside of the moat.

5. Then holding the knife at about a 45° angle and following the cut just made, cut all the way through the foamboard to create the sloping bank of the moat.

6. Looking on the back of the board check you have cut all the way through and making extra cuts where needed. Then separate the parts.

7. Repeat the process to cut out the Motte.

7. And then the Bailey

8. Remove the plan from the foamboard.

9. Stick the foamboard to the mdf base using UHU glue as a contact adhesive gluing down the outside first.

Run UHU all over the back of the foam board, put the foam board and the base together so the glue is on the base as well then pull apart.

Allow the glue to become touch dry and then put the two pieces together again pushing down on the foam board so the two pieces are firmly stuck together.

This method will stick the two pieces together very firmly.

PVA glue can be used instead but the glue will need to be left for a few hours to dry with something heavy on top, such as some books, to hold the pieces together.

MAKING THE MOTTE MOUND

10. Glue two plans of the Bailey onto the top and bottom of the expanded polystyrene foam using the glue stick.

11. Roughly cut through the foam, close to the plan but not trying to cut out exactly making lots of cuts slowly working your way through the foam.

12. Cut round the smaller circle in the centre of the Motte removing the outside paper leaving the inner circle.

13. Then repeat the cutting process removing small pieces of foam working towards the centre until you have formed the cone shape.

14. Remove the paper from the cone then stick the cone to the foamboard base using PVA glue.

15. To form a smooth surface on the foam and the moat paint watered down PVA glue onto the cone and cover with strips of tissue paper or news paper until fully covered. Allow to dry fully for approx 3 hours.

MAKING THE MOTTE MOUND

COLOURING THE MODEL

16. Using the plan as a guide mark on the roads and paths with a pencil.

17. Then paint on the roads and paths in a light brown grey colour. (A brown and white)

18. Paint the bottom of the moat with a browny green colour to represent water, preferably with a gloss paint. (Brunswick green).

19. Using a matt green paint, paint the grass areas in the following sections, the Motte, the Bailey then the surrounding area letting each dry before beginning the next.

Or, for a more realistic model use 4D modelshop flock adhesive and while still wet sprinkle on grass flock through a flour sieve. Allow to dry for a couple of hours then knock off the excess flock onto some paper, before beginning the next section.

20. For an extra realistic look and to break up the flat look of the road areas stipple on white and brown paint.

This is done by using a stiff brush with a flat end dipping the end of the brush in the paint and removing excess paint on a piece of paper until only a small amount of paint comes off the brush. Then using a gentle stabbing motion applying the paint all over the road areas repeating until the whole area is covered with small dots of paint.

WALLS AND BUILDINGS

21. Cut out the perimeter walls and glue them back to back with PVA glue.

22. Shape the wall to the curve of the moat, cut to size and glue in place with PVA glue. Work round model until all the walls are complete.

23. Then cut out the buildings, glue together and stick to the model using PVA glue.

24. A tip to get a clean fold is to use a ruler placed along the tab or fold line then make the fold by pushing the paper up with a knife blade or another ruler.